Man sues Honolulu police, city for forced urinal licking

A homeless man is suing the Honolulu Police Department and the city after he says officers forced him to a lick a urinal in a public restroom

By

JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER Associated Press

February 4, 2020, 1:06 AM

2 min read

HONOLULU —
A homeless man is suing the Honolulu Police Department and the city after he says officers forced him to lick a urinal in a public restroom.

Samuel Ingall was seeking shelter in the restroom in January 2018 when one of the officers told him in an “aggressive tone” that the “only way he could avoid arrest was by licking the urinal in the bathroom,” the lawsuit said.

Another officer stood in the doorway, propping open the door, then closed it so they wouldn’t be caught on video, according to the lawsuit filed last week.

It said Ingall, “against his will, knelt before the urinal and licked the urinal.”

John Rabago, who remains on restricted duty, pleaded guilty in December to depriving Ingall of his civil rights. Reginald Ramones, who left the department in August, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge that he knew Rabago committed a civil rights violation but didn’t inform authorities.

According to Ingall’s lawsuit, Rabago followed him out of the bathroom and laughed as he told other officers about Ingall licking the urinal.

Rabago wasn’t allowed to plead no contest, so he pleaded guilty to accept responsibility, defense attorney Megan Kau said Monday. The guilty plea “potentially puts the city at risk because of the civil lawsuit,” which was expected, she said.